Cucumber hybrid drce9615 and parents thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seeds and plants of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber inbred line EUR-Y319-3065GY, and cucumber inbred line EUR-Y318-5035GY. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds, plant parts, and tissue cultures of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber inbred line EUR-Y319-3065GY, and cucumber inbred line EUR-Y318-5035GY and to methods for producing a cucumber plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another plant, such as a cucumber plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to plants, seeds, plant parts, and tissue cultures of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber inbred line EUR-Y319-3065GY, and cucumber inbred line EUR-Y318-5035GY comprising introduced beneficial or desirable traits.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumberinbred line EUR-Y319-3065GY, and cucumber inbred line EUR-Y318-5035GY.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety. Such desirable traits may include any trait deemedbeneficial or desirable by a grower or consumer, including greateryield, resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmentalstress, and nutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all genetic loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for manygenetic loci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at anumber of loci produces a population of hybrid plants that differgenetically and are not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makesperformance unpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a cucumber plant of hybridDRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY. Also provided are cucumber plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these cucumber plants are also provided, for example, includingpollen, an ovule, an embryo, a seed, a scion, a rootstock, a fruit, anda cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615,cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GYcomprising an added heritable trait is provided. The heritable trait maycomprise a genetic locus that is, for example, a dominant or recessiveallele. In one embodiment of the invention, a plant of cucumber hybridDRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY is defined as comprising a single locus conversion. Inspecific embodiments of the invention, an added genetic locus confersone or more traits such as, for example, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, disease resistance, and modified carbohydrate metabolism. Infurther embodiments, the trait may be conferred by a naturally occurringgene introduced into the genome of a line by backcrossing, a natural orinduced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetictransformation techniques into the plant or a progenitor of any previousgeneration thereof. When introduced through transformation, a geneticlocus may comprise one or more genes integrated at a single chromosomallocation.

In some embodiments, a single locus conversion includes one or moresite-specific changes to the plant genome, such as, without limitation,one or more nucleotide modifications, deletions, or insertions. A singlelocus may comprise one or more genes or nucleotides integrated ormutated at a single chromosomal location. In one embodiment, a singlelocus conversion may be introduced by a genetic engineering technique,methods of which include, for example, genome editing with engineerednucleases (GEEN). Engineered nucleases include, but are not limited to,Cas endonucleases; zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs); transcriptionactivator-like effector nucleases (TALENs); engineered meganucleases,also known as homing endonucleases; and other endonucleases for DNA orRNA-guided genome editing that are well-known to the skilled artisan.

The invention also concerns the seed of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615,cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY. Theseed of the invention may be provided as an essentially homogeneouspopulation of seed of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY. Essentiallyhomogeneous populations of seed are generally free from substantialnumbers of other seed. Therefore, seed of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615,cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY may bedefined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including atleast about 98%, 99%, or more of the seed. The seed population may beseparately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous population ofcucumber plants designated DRCE9615, EUR-Y319-3065GY, orEUR-Y318-5035GY.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a cucumber plant of hybrid DRCE9615, line EUR-Y319-3065GY, orline EUR-Y318-5035GY is provided. The tissue culture will preferably becapable of regenerating cucumber plants capable of expressing all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the starting plantand of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotype as thestarting plant. Examples of some of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY include those traitsset forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissuecultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed, and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides cucumberplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics ofcucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumberline EUR-Y318-5035GY.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing cucumber seeds, plants, and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent cucumber plant with a second parentcucumber plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parentplants is a plant of cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY or cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY. These processes may be further exemplified as processesfor preparing hybrid cucumber seed or plants, wherein a first cucumberplant is crossed with a second cucumber plant of a different, distinctgenotype to provide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant ofcucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY. In theseprocesses, crossing will result in the production of seed. The seedproduction occurs regardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent cucumber plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent cucumber plants into plants that bear flowers. A thirdstep may comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent cucumber plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent cucumber plants.The harvested seed can be grown to produce a cucumber plant or hybridcucumber plant.

The present invention also provides the cucumber seeds and plantsproduced by a process that comprises crossing a first parent cucumberplant with a second parent cucumber plant, wherein at least one of thefirst or second parent cucumber plants is a plant of cucumber hybridDRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY. In one embodiment of the invention, cucumber seed andplants produced by the process are first generation (F₁) hybrid cucumberseed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordance with theinvention with another, distinct plant. The present invention furthercontemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybrid cucumber plant, andmethods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of theinvention provide an F₁ hybrid cucumber plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY, the method comprisingthe steps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from cucumber hybridDRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY, wherein said preparing comprises crossing a plant ofcucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumberline EUR-Y318-5035GY with a second plant; and (b) crossing the progenyplant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plantof a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, the method mayadditionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generationand crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself ora second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional 3-10generations to produce a plant derived from cucumber hybrid DRCE9615,cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY. Theplant derived from cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY may be an inbred line,and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may be defined ascomprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line. In themethod, it may be desirable to select particular plants resulting fromstep (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, orcucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY is obtained which possesses some of thedesirable traits of the line/hybrid as well as potentially otherselected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of cucumberhybrid DRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and(b) collecting at least one cucumber from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofcucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumberline EUR-Y318-5035GY is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” isused to refer to the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expressionof which sequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, acucumber plant, or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complementthus represents the genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and ahybrid genetic complement represents the genetic make-up of a hybridcell, tissue or plant. The invention thus provides cucumber plant cellsthat have a genetic complement in accordance with the cucumber plantcells disclosed herein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY could be identified byany of the many well-known techniques such as, for example, SimpleSequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic AcidsRes., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs),DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science,280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by cucumber plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a cucumber plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second cucumber plant, preferably, another, distinctcucumber plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides acucumber plant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybridgenetic complement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have,” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes,” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has,” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has,” or “includes” oneor more traits is not limited to possessing only those one or moretraits and covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds, and derivatives of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY, and cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY.

Hybrid DRCE9615, also known as 19-Y3-EUR-9615, is gynoecious,indeterminate cucumber variety intended for the winter cycle in Canada.Hybrid DRCE9615 develops a plant that produces fruit between 31-34 cm inlength with desirable fruit color and shape. The hybrid comprisesresistance to: HR CCU IR CGGMV/CMV/CVYV/CCA.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Cucumber Hybrid DRCE9615

The parents of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615 are cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY and cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY. The parent lines areuniform and stable, as is a hybrid produced therefrom. A smallpercentage of variants can occur within commercially acceptable limitsfor almost any characteristic during the course of repeatedmultiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Cucumber HybridDRCE9615, Cucumber Line EUR-Y319-3065GY, and Cucumber LineEUR-Y318-5035GY

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there areprovided plants having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615 and the parent linesthereof. Descriptions of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants are presented in the tables that follow.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of CucumberHybrid DRCE9615 CHARACTERISTIC DRCE9615 Camaro Type predominant usageslicing/fresh market slicing/fresh market predominant culture greenhousegreenhouse Maturity days from seeding to market 58 59 maturity Planthabit vine vine cotyledon: bitterness absent absent growth typeindeterminate indeterminate time of development of female late lateflowers (80% of plants with at least one female flower) sex 100%gynoecious 100% gynoecious sex expression gynoecious gynoecious numberof female flowers per node mostly 1 mostly 1 flower color yellow yellowflower color (RHS color chart value) 12A 12A Main Stem main stem length(cm) 130.7 155.8 number of nodes from cotyledon 2.0 2.5 leaves to nodebearing the first pistillate flower internode length (cm) 8.4 11.9 stemform grooved, ridged grooved, ridged plant: total length of first 15medium long internodes leaf blade: attitude drooping drooping Leafmature blade of third leaf: leaf 404.0 440.0 length (mm) mature blade ofthird leaf: leaf width 380.0 410.7 (mm) mature blade of third leaf:petiole 21.7 25.6 length (cm) length medium long ratio length ofterminal lobe/length large medium of blade shape of apex of terminallobe right-angled right-angled intensity of green color medium mediumblistering weak weak undulation of margin moderate moderate dentation ofmargin very weak very weak ovary: color of vestiture white white Fruitparthenocarpy present present length long long at edible maturity: fruitlength (cm) 32.5 30.7 diameter medium medium at edible maturity: fruitdiameter at 4.4 4.7 medial (cm) ratio length/diameter large large corediameter in relation to diameter medium medium of fruit shape intransverse section round to angular round to angular shape of stem endnecked necked length of neck short short-medium shape of calyx endobtuse obtuse at edible maturity: fruit gram weight 411.7 432.0 skincolor/mottling not mottled not mottled at edible maturity: yellowishabsent absent blossom end stripes at edible maturity: predominant darkgreen dark green color at stem end at edible maturity: Predominant 139a139a color at stem end (RHS Color Chart value) at edible maturity:predominant medium green medium green color at blossom end at ediblematurity: predominant 144a 146b color at blossom end (RHS Color Chartvalue) at edible maturity: fruit neck shape necked necked at ediblematurity: fruit tapering stem end tapered stem end tapered at ediblematurity: stem end cross circular circular section at edible maturity:medial cross circular circular section at edible maturity: blossom endtriangular triangular cross section ground color of skin at market stagegreen green intensity of ground color of skin medium medium at ediblematurity: skin thickness thin thin at edible maturity: skin ribs weakweak sutures absent absent creasing present present degree of creasingmedium medium at edible maturity: skin toughness tender tender at ediblematurity: skin luster glossy glossy at edible maturity: spine colorwhite white at edible maturity: spine quality fine fine at ediblematurity: spine density few few type of vestiture hairs and pricklesprickles only density of vestiture sparse sparse density of vestiture(only varieties white white with white ovary vestiture) warts absentabsent at edible maturity: flavor bitterfree bitterfree length ofstripes absent or very short absent or very short dots absent absentglaucosity absent or very weak absent or very weak length of pedunclelong medium ground color of skin at physiological yellow yellow ripenessFruit seed at harvest maturity measurements fruit seed length (cm) 38.137.3 measurements fruit seed diameter at 5.4 6.0 medial (cm) coloryellow yellow color RHS Color Chart value 3b 3b color pattern notstriped not striped surface smooth smooth netting slight or none slightor none fruit set parthenocarpically parthenocarpically These aretypical values. Values may vary due to environment. Values that aresubstantially equivalent are within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Cucumber LineEUR-Y319-3065GY CHARACTERISTIC EUR-Y319-3065GY Camaro Type predominantusage slicing/fresh market slicing/fresh market predominant culturegreenhouse greenhouse Maturity days from seeding to market 64 59maturity Plant habit vine vine cotyledon: bitterness absent absentgrowth type indeterminate indeterminate time of development of femalelate late flowers (80% of plants with at least one female flower) sex100% gynoecious 100% gynoecious sex expression gynoecious gynoeciousnumber of female flowers per node mostly 1 mostly 1 flower color yellowyellow flower color (RHS color chart value) 12A 12A Main Stem main stemlength (cm) 106.7 155.8 number of nodes from cotyledon 3.0 2.5 leaves tonode bearing the first pistillate flower internode length (cm) 7.1 11.9stem form grooved, ridged grooved, ridged plant: total length of first15 medium long internodes leaf blade: attitude horizontal drooping Leafmature blade of third leaf: leaf 328.7 440.0 length (mm) mature blade ofthird leaf: leaf width 311.3 410.7 (mm) mature blade of third leaf:petiole 18.2 25.6 length (cm) length medium long ratio length ofterminal lobe/length medium to large medium of blade shape of apex ofterminal lobe right-angled right-angled intensity of green color mediummedium blistering absent or very weak weak undulation of margin absentor very weak moderate dentation of margin very weak very weak ovary:color of vestiture white white Fruit parthenocarpy present presentlength long long at edible maturity: fruit length (cm) 31.3 30.7diameter medium medium at edible maturity: fruit diameter at 4.3 4.7medial (cm) ratio length/diameter large large core diameter in relationto diameter large medium of fruit shape in transverse section round toangular round to angular shape of stem end necked necked length of neckshort short-medium shape of calyx end rounded obtuse at edible maturity:fruit gram weight 389.5 432.0 skin color/mottling not mottled notmottled at edible maturity: yellowish absent absent blossom end stripesat edible maturity: predominant dark green dark green color at stem endat edible maturity: Predominant 137a 139a color at stem end (RHS ColorChart value) at edible maturity: predominant medium green medium greencolor at blossom end at edible maturity: predominant 146b 146b color atblossom end (RHS Color Chart value) at edible maturity: fruit neck shapenecked necked at edible maturity: fruit tapering stem end tapered stemend tapered at edible maturity: stem end cross circular circular sectionat edible maturity: medial cross circular circular section at ediblematurity: blossom end triangular triangular cross section ground colorof skin at market stage green green intensity of ground color of skinmedium medium at edible maturity: skin thickness thin thin at ediblematurity: skin ribs weak weak sutures absent absent creasing presentpresent degree of creasing strong medium at edible maturity: skintoughness tender tender at edible maturity: skin luster glossy glossy atedible maturity: spine color white white at edible maturity: spinequality coarse fine at edible maturity: spine density many few type ofvestiture hairs and prickles prickles only density of vestiture mediumsparse density of vestiture (only varieties white white with white ovaryvestiture) warts present absent tubercles (warts) many, obscure n/a sizeof warts small n/a at edible maturity: flavor bitterfree bitterfreelength of stripes absent or very short absent or very short dots absentabsent glaucosity absent or very weak absent or very weak length ofpeduncle medium medium ground color of skin at physiological yellowyellow ripeness Fruit seed at harvest maturity measurements fruit seedlength (cm) 33.9 37.3 measurements fruit seed diameter at 5.0 6.0 medial(cm) color yellow yellow color RHS Color Chart value 154c 3b colorpattern not striped not striped surface rough smooth netting slight ornone slight or none fruit set parthenocarpically parthenocarpicallyThese are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Valuesthat are substantially equivalent are within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Cucumber LineEUR-Y318-5035GY CHARACTERISTIC EUR-Y318-5035GY WINMAR Type predominantusage slicing/fresh market slicing/fresh market predominant culturegreenhouse greenhouse Maturity days from seeding to market 65 63maturity Plant habit vine vine cotyledon: bitterness absent absentgrowth type indeterminate indeterminate time of development of femalemedium to late medium to late flowers (80% of plants with at least onefemale flower) sex 100% gynoecious 100% gynoecious sex expressiongynoecious gynoecious number of female flowers per node mostly 2 mostly1 flower color yellow yellow flower color (RHS color chart value) 12A12A Main Stem main stem length (cm) 131.8 150.7 number of nodes fromcotyledon 1.7 2.2 leaves to node bearing the first pistillate flowerinternode length (cm) 10.0 10.9 stem form grooved, ridged grooved,ridged plant: total length of first 15 medium medium to long internodesleaf blade: attitude drooping drooping Leaf mature blade of third leaf:leaf 302.7 321.3 length (mm) mature blade of third leaf: leaf width380.3 424.0 (mm) mature blade of third leaf: petiole 21.6 24.6 length(cm) length medium medium ratio length of terminal lobe/length mediummedium of blade shape of apex of terminal lobe right-angled right-angledintensity of green color medium medium blistering weak weak to mediumundulation of margin moderate moderate dentation of margin very weakvery weak ovary: color of vestiture white white Fruit parthenocarpypresent present length long long at edible maturity: fruit length (cm)33.0 33.6 diameter medium medium at edible maturity: fruit diameter at4.5 4.7 medial (cm) ratio length/diameter large large core diameter inrelation to diameter small to medium medium of fruit shape in transversesection round to angular round shape of stem end necked necked length ofneck short medium shape of calyx end obtuse obtuse at edible maturity:fruit gram weight 421.2 492.9 skin color/mottling not mottled notmottled at edible maturity: yellowish absent absent blossom end stripesat edible maturity: predominant dark green dark green color at stem endat edible maturity: Predominant 139a 139a color at stem end (RHS ColorChart value) at edible maturity: predominant medium green medium greencolor at blossom end at edible maturity: predominant 146a 146a color atblossom end (RHS Color Chart value) at edible maturity: fruit neck shapenecked necked at edible maturity: fruit tapering stem end tapered stemend tapered at edible maturity: stem end cross circular circular sectionat edible maturity: medial cross circular circular section at ediblematurity: blossom end triangular triangular cross section ground colorof skin at market stage green green intensity of ground color of skinmedium medium at edible maturity: skin thickness thin thin at ediblematurity: skin ribs weak weak sutures absent absent creasing presentpresent degree of creasing medium medium at edible maturity: skintoughness tender tender at edible maturity: skin luster glossy glossy atedible maturity: spine color white white at edible maturity: spinequality fine fine at edible maturity: spine density few few type ofvestiture prickles only prickles only density of vestiture very sparsesparse density of vestiture (only varieties white white with white ovaryvestiture) warts absent absent at edible maturity: flavor bitterfreebitterfree length of stripes absent or very short absent or very shortdots absent absent glaucosity absent or very weak absent or very weaklength of peduncle medium medium ground color of skin at physiologicalyellow yellow ripeness Fruit seed at harvest maturity measurements fruitseed length (cm) 36.2 39.3 measurements fruit seed diameter at 5.2 5.9medial (cm) color yellow yellow color RHS Color Chart value 3c 3b colorpattern not striped not striped surface smooth smooth netting slight ornone slight or none fruit set parthenocarpically parthenocarpicallyThese are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Valuesthat are substantially equivalent are within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Cucumber Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof cucumber hybrid DRCE9615 involving crossing cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY and cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY. Alternatively, inother embodiments of the invention, cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumberline EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY may be crossedwith itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used forpropagation of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY,or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY or can be used to produce plants thatare derived from cucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY. Plants derived fromcucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumberline EUR-Y318-5035GY may be used, in certain embodiments, for thedevelopment of new cucumber varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell-known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing cucumber hybrid DRCE9615 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well-known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g., colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may begrown into haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. Ineither case, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance withthe invention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with aplant of the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withcucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumberline EUR-Y318-5035GY for the purpose of developing novel cucumber lines,it will typically be preferred to choose those plants which eitherthemselves exhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics orwhich exhibit the desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination.Examples of desirable traits may include, in specific embodiments, highseed yield, high seed germination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield,disease tolerance or resistance, and adaptability for soil and climateconditions. Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color,texture, and taste are other examples of traits that may be incorporatedinto new lines of cucumber plants developed by this invention.

D. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those cucumber plants which are developed by aplant breeding technique called backcrossing or by genetic engineering,wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of a variety are recovered or conserved in addition tothe single locus introduced into the variety via the backcrossing orgenetic engineering technique, respectively. By essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics, it is meant that thecharacteristics of a plant are recovered or conserved that are otherwisepresent when compared in the same environment, other than an occasionalvariant trait that might arise during backcrossing, introduction of atransgene, or application of a genetic engineering technique.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalcucumber plant which contributes the locus for the desiredcharacteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. Thisterminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used onetime in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. Theparental cucumber plant to which the locus or loci from the nonrecurrentparent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is usedfor several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a cucumber plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny cucumber plants of a backcross in which aplant described herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desiredtrait from the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of cucumber the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiol., 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of cucumber plants for breeding is not necessarily dependenton the phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming, or otherwise disadvantageous. In addition,marker assisted selection may be used to identify plants comprisingdesirable genotypes at the seed, seedling, or plant stage, to identifyor assess the purity of a cultivar, to catalog the genetic diversity ofa germplasm collection, and to monitor specific alleles or haplotypeswithin an established cultivar.

Types of genetic markers which could be used in accordance with theinvention include, but are not necessarily limited to, Simple SequenceLength Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 18:6531-6535, 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNAAmplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science,280:1077-1082, 1998).

In particular embodiments of the invention, marker assisted selection isused to increase the efficiency of a backcrossing breeding scheme forproducing a cucumber line comprising a desired trait. This technique iscommonly referred to as marker assisted backcrossing (MABC). Thistechnique is well-known in the art and may involve, for example, the useof three or more levels of selection, including foreground selection toidentity the presence of a desired locus, which may complement orreplace phenotype screening protocols; recombinant selection to minimizelinkage drag; and background selection to maximize recurrent parentgenome recovery.

E. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Various genetic engineering technologies have been developed and may beused by those of skill in the art to introduce traits in plants. Incertain aspects of the claimed invention, traits are introduced intocucumber plants via altering or introducing a single genetic locus ortransgene into the genome of a recited variety or progenitor thereof.Methods of genetic engineering to modify, delete, or insert genes andpolynucleotides into the genomic DNA of plants are well-known in theart.

In specific embodiments of the invention, improved cucumber lines can becreated through the site-specific modification of a plant genome.Methods of genetic engineering include, for example, utilizingsequence-specific nucleases such as zinc-finger nucleases (see, forexample, U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2011-0203012); engineered or nativemeganucleases; TALE-endonucleases (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.8,586,363 and 9,181,535); and RNA-guided endonucleases, such as those ofthe CRISPR/Cas systems (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,359 and8,771,945 and U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2014-0068797). One embodiment ofthe invention thus relates to utilizing a nuclease or any associatedprotein to carry out genome modification. This nuclease could beprovided heterologously within donor template DNA for templated-genomicediting or in a separate molecule or vector. A recombinant DNA constructmay also comprise a sequence encoding one or more guide RNAs to directthe nuclease to the site within the plant genome to be modified. Furthermethods for altering or introducing a single genetic locus include, forexample, utilizing single-stranded oligonucleotides to introduce basepair modifications in a cucumber plant genome (see, for example Sauer etal., Plant Physiol, 170(4):1917-1928, 2016).

Methods for site-directed alteration or introduction of a single geneticlocus are well-known in the art and include those that utilizesequence-specific nucleases, such as the aforementioned, or complexes ofproteins and guide-RNA that cut genomic DNA to produce a double-strandbreak (DSB) or nick at a genetic locus. As is well-understood in theart, during the process of repairing the DSB or nick introduced by thenuclease enzyme, a donor template, transgene, or expression cassettepolynucleotide may become integrated into the genome at the site of theDSB or nick. The presence of homology arms in the DNA to be integratedmay promote the adoption and targeting of the insertion sequence intothe plant genome during the repair process through homologousrecombination or non-homologous end joining (NHEJ).

In another embodiment of the invention, genetic transformation may beused to insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention ormay, alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which canbe introduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well-known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, for example,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13:344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, for example, Odel et al., Nature, 313:810,1985), including in monocots (see, for example, Dekeyser et al., PlantCell, 2:591, 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389,1990); a tandemly duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, theenhanced 35S promoter (P-e35S); the nopaline synthase promoter (An etal., Plant Physiol., 88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter(Fromm et al., Plant Cell, 1:977, 1989); the figwort mosaic virus(P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619; an enhancedversion of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence ofP-FMV is duplicated in tandem; the cauliflower mosaic virus 19Spromoter; a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter; a commelina yellowmottle virus promoter; and other plant virus promoters known to expressin plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, or developmental signals can also beused for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells, includingpromoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., Plant Physiol., 88:965,1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., PlantCell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter, Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell,3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding protein promoter, Simpson etal., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid(Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl,Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5) chemicals, such asmethyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It may also beadvantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal et al.,EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a cucumber plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a cucumber plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see, for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125,1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

F. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a genetic locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions or transgenes from one geneticbackground into another.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-Pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence, or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Color Chart Value: The RHS Color Chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightness,and saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS Color Chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number, and letter, e.g.,Yellow-Orange Group 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-Pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing or genetic engineering ofa locus, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of a cucumber variety are recovered in addition to thecharacteristics of the single locus.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a cucumber plant by transformation orsite-specific modification.

G. Deposit Information

A deposit of cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY and cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has beenmade with the Provasoli-Guillard National Center for Marine Algae andMicrobiota (NCMA), 60 Bigelow Drive, East Boothbay, Me., 04544 USA. Thedate of deposit for cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY and cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY is April 12, 2021. The accession numbers for thosedeposited seeds of cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY and cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY are NCMA Accession No. 202104016 and NCMA Accession No.202104015, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, all restrictionsupon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits are intended to meetall of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.801-1.809. The deposits havebeen accepted under the Budapest Treaty and will be maintained in thedepository for a period of 30 years, 5 years after the last request, orthe effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will bereplaced if necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed:
 1. A cucumber plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY or cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY, a sample of seed of said lines having been depositedunder NCMA Accession No. 202104016 and NCMA Accession No. 202104015,respectively.
 2. A cucumber seed that produces the plant of claim
 1. 3.The plant of claim 1, wherein the plant is a plant of said cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY.
 4. The plant of claim1, wherein the plant is a plant of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615.
 5. The seedof claim 2, wherein the seed is a seed of said cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY.
 6. The seed of claim2, wherein the seed is a seed of cucumber hybrid DRCE9615.
 7. A plantpart of the plant of claim 1, wherein the plant part comprises a cell ofsaid plant.
 8. A cucumber plant having all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the plant of claim
 1. 9. A tissueculture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim
 1. 10. A method ofvegetatively propagating the plant of claim 1, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from theplant of claim 1; and (b) propagating a cucumber plant from said tissue.11. A method of introducing a trait into a cucumber line, the methodcomprising: (a) utilizing as a recurrent parent the plant of claim 1 bycrossing said plant with a donor plant that comprises a trait to produceF₁ progeny; (b) selecting an F₁ progeny that comprises the trait; (c)backcrossing the selected F₁ progeny with a plant of the same line usedas the recurrent parent in step (a) to produce backcross progeny; (d)selecting a backcross progeny comprising the trait and otherwisecomprising the morphological and physiological characteristics of therecurrent parent line used in step (a); and (e) repeating steps (c) and(d) three or more times to produce a selected fourth or higher backcrossprogeny.
 12. A cucumber plant produced by the method of claim
 11. 13. Amethod of producing a cucumber plant comprising an added trait, themethod comprising introducing a transgene conferring the trait into theplant of claim
 1. 14. A cucumber plant produced by the method of claim13.
 15. A cucumber plant comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY or cucumber lineEUR-Y318-5035GY, a sample of seed of said lines having been depositedunder NCMA Accession No. 202104016 and NCMA Accession No. 202104015,respectively, further comprising a transgene.
 16. The plant of claim 15,wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from the group consistingof male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pestresistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism,environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, andmodified protein metabolism.
 17. A cucumber plant comprising at least afirst set of the chromosomes of cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY orcucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY, a sample of seed of said lines havingbeen deposited under NCMA Accession No. 202104016 and NCMA Accession No.202104015, respectively, further comprising a single locus conversion.18. The plant of claim 17, wherein the single locus conversion confers atrait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicidetolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance,modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism, and modified protein metabolism.
 19. A methodfor producing a seed of a cucumber plant derived from at least one ofcucumber hybrid DRCE9615, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY, or cucumberline EUR-Y318-5035GY, the method comprising the steps of: (a) crossingthe plant of claim 1 with itself or a different cucumber plant; and (b)allowing a seed of a cucumber hybrid DRCE9615-derived, cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY-derived, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY-derivedcucumber plant to form.
 20. A method of producing a seed of a cucumberhybrid DRCE9615-derived, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY-derived, orcucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY-derived cucumber plant, the methodcomprising the steps of: (a) producing a cucumber hybridDRCE9615-derived, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY-derived, or cucumberline EUR-Y318-5035GY-derived cucumber plant from a seed produced bycrossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a different cucumber plant;and (b) crossing the cucumber hybrid DRCE9615-derived, cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY-derived, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY-derivedcucumber plant with itself or a different cucumber plant to obtain aseed of a further cucumber hybrid DRCE9615-derived, cucumber lineEUR-Y319-3065GY-derived, or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY-derivedcucumber plant.
 21. The method of claim 20, the method furthercomprising repeating said producing and crossing steps of (a) and (b)using the seed from said step (b) for producing the plant according tostep (a) for at least one generation to produce a seed of an additionalcucumber hybrid DRCE9615-derived, cucumber line EUR-Y319-3065GY-derived,or cucumber line EUR-Y318-5035GY-derived cucumber plant.
 22. A method ofproducing a cucumber fruit, the method comprising: (a) obtaining theplant of claim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and(b) collecting a cucumber fruit from the plant.